Ohio State
12-5
Miami (Ohio)
7-5
Eighth Inning Rally Lifts Ohio State Over Miami – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/6/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 6, 2015
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COLUMBUS, Ohio-Ohio State offense erupted for five runs in the eighth inning, keyed by a three-run double by pinch hitter Erika Leonard, as the Buckeyes (12-5) defeated Miami (7-5), 8-3, on Friday in its opener of the Husky Classic on the campus of the University of Washington.
Knotted at 3-3 entering extra innings, Ohio State’s rally started with a one-out single from Cammi Prantl, followed by another single from Taylor Watkins. Pinch hitter Jayla Saibene then continued the single parade, loading the bases for Leonard, who pinch hit in place of Kirstie Fehrenbach. Leonard’s double made the score 6-3, and then Caitlin Conrad put two more runs on the board with a two-run single that scored Keelia Nester and Fehrenbach, who had re-entered to pinch run for Leonard.
Miami was able to make things interesting in the bottom of the eighth with a one-out single and two-out walk, leaving runners at second and third following a wild pitch. O’Reilly was able to shut the door, however, by getting Bree Lipscomb to groundout for the final out. Ohio State is now 3-0 this year in extra inning games.
The Buckeyes were able to take a 3-0 lead through two and a half innings thanks a double from freshman Taylor White that scored Maddy McIntyre and a sacrifice fly from Watkins. In the top of the third, Prantl singled home Anna Kirk to make the score 3-0.
Starting pitcher Olivia O’Reilly picked up her third complete-game win in the last two weeks, going eight innings while allowing just three hits and two earned runs. Miami’s only runs came via a Ohio State error in the third inning, a single in the third inning and a fielder’s choice (also in the third inning). O’Reilly is now 7-1 on the year and has won 15 of her last 17 decisions. She lowered her team-best ERA to 2.59 and opposing hitters and now batting just .215 against her.
Ohio State’s offense collected double-digit hits for the eighth time in 17 games (OSU is 7-1 in those contests). The bottom of the order, batters 5-6-7-8, combined to go eight-for-14 with three RBI and four runs scored. Additionally, Watkins, playing in her home state of Washington, collected her 200th career hit, a single in the eighth inning. She is the 12th player in program history to reach the 200-hit mark. Conrad’s two-run single in the eighth inning gives her 21 RBI on the year, the first Buckeye to surpass the 20-RBI mark this season.
Ohio State returns to action in the Husky Classic tomorrow when it faces Cal State Northridge at 5:45 p.m. EST (2:45 PST) and No. 19 Washington at 10:15 p.m. EST (7:15 PST).
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: O'Reilly, Olivia (7-1)
L: MATTERA (0-1)
Batting:
2B: White, Taylor 1 ; Leonard, Erika 1
RBI: Conrad, Caitlin 2 ; White, Taylor 1 ; Prantl, Cammi 1 ; Watkins, Taylor 1 ; Leonard, Erika 3
SH: Nester, Keelia 1
SF: Watkins, Taylor 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Nester, Keelia 1 ; Kirk, Anna 1 ; McIntyre, Maddy 1 ; White, Taylor 1 ; Prantl, Cammi 1 ; Watkins, Taylor 1 ; Saibene, Jayla 1 ; Fehrenbach, Kirstie 1
SB: Nester, Keelia 1
HBP: Fehrenbach, Kirstie 1
Batting:
RBI: WHISPEL 1 ; McCHESNEY 1
SH: MARSHALL 1 ; REED 1
Base Running:
RUNS: SHUEY 1 ; LIPSCOMB 1 ; McCHESNEY 1
SB: SHUEY 1 ; LIPSCOMB 1
